Linkwood New Make Spirit

Nose: Greenery, banana, grains, oatmeal, mint, alcohol. Palate: Sweet, viscous, and potent when consumed neat from the still, with a lip-tingling alcohol burn. No tartness. Significantly sweeter when diluted. Finish: Moderately extended. Grains fading into slightly off fruit flavors. A typical Scottish new-make profile, though sweeter than some others I've sampled. This is too intense to enjoy straight from the still but becomes highly drinkable when reduced to around 40% ABV. At that strength, it resembles jonge genever and would be excellent in mixed drinks. I tried the sample I took with me neat, slightly diluted, and mixed with tonic water, and it was delightful. It's fascinating how the grassy, tropical notes detected here persist even after maturation into whisky, and particularly how certain cask finishes can amplify those qualities. Evaluating new make spirit is tricky as it can change dramatically during maturation. Glenfarclas, for instance, isn't particularly appealing as new make but transforms completely after sufficient time in sherry wood. However, this is very pleasant right from the start. I assess them based on their suitability as reduced spirits for mixing. “Good”: 84/100 (3.75 stars)